The Youngstown State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the Orpha Irene Sarver Women’s Basketball Scholarship to enhance the YSU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Fund.
This scholarship was established by Orpha Irene Sarver’s daughter, Mary Lou McCarthy. Sarver was a teacher in the rural area of Roane County, West Virginia. She taught elementary education in a one-room schoolhouse. Sarver took great pride in teaching and encouraging her students. The Sarver family has deep roots in education and athletics as both teachers, coaches and officials.
McCarthy has become an avid supporter of YSU athletics. Her pride in our women’s student-athletes is something near and dear to her heart. She attends the scholar-athlete banquet each spring and enjoys seeing the academic and athletic achievements of Penguins student-athletes. This scholarship is symbolic of her generosity and commitment to YSU athletics.
The new endowment will be awarded to a student-athlete on the women’s basketball team.
"Our program is so fortunate to have outstanding support from the community, and Mary Lou McCarthy is a wonderful example of that," YSU head coach John Barnes said. "We are so grateful for her generosity in establishing a scholarship endowment in her mother's name to benefit our student-athletes as they work to excel in the classroom and on the court."
Paul McFadden, President of the YSU Foundation, said the work ethic by Sarver is something our Penguins student-athletes can take great pride in.
“Orpha was always about education leading to success and we are honored to have her family endow a scholarship in her name,” McFadden said. “Mary Lou is a big Penguins fan and has enjoyed watching our women’s programs receive countless accolades for their athletic and academic success.”
For more information, or to endow an athletic scholarship at Youngstown State University, contact Dan Kopp at the YSU Foundation at (330) 941-3211 or dkopp@ysufoundation.org
